Reshape NICE remit to fit new 'VALUE' era, says ABPI

The Association of the British Pharmaceutical Industry has called for a change in the remit of NICE, to equip it for the future ‘value-based’ era envisaged by Government. Speaking today at the Westminster Health Forum, which is holding a seminar on the changing role of NICE, Dr Richard Barker, Director General of the ABPI, sets out a three-point plan for the future:

Page Content

​Broaden NICE’s definition of value to capture all the key elements of healthcare innovation, and reflect uncertainties in early assessment of medicines in value ranges.

Refocus attention on clinical best practice and quality standards and how innovation can advance both.

Dismantle NHS processes that ‘second-guess’ NICE conclusions.

“As debate begins on the design of a future ‘value-based’ approach to how the NHS pays for medicines, it’s vital we have a parallel debate on the role and focus of NICE.” says Dr Richard Barker.

“NICE has pioneered rigorous cost-effectiveness calculations, but many medicines that improve clinical practice and patient outcomes have struggled to enter the NHS – despite UK prices that are lower than elsewhere in Europe. An advanced economy such as ours needs to take a broader view of the value that medicines bring in improving patient outcomes.“

“If we want the NHS and the UK economy to benefit from a vigorous life sciences sector, the reshaping of NICE’s remit is an urgent priority. A focus on the future value of innovation, rather than decisions made on narrow cost-effectiveness criteria, would mean that NICE could play an important pivotal role in an outcomes-driven NHS.”

The ABPI is ready for a broad, constructive dialogue with Government to improve access for NHS patients to new medicines. How they are reimbursed is one factor, but how they are built into NICE’s view of clinical best practice and quality standards, and then brought into wide use in the NHS, will clearly be of equal importance.

Get in touch

I am happy for ABPI to keep my details on file and to send me details of future ABPI work and services. ABPI will not sell your data to any third party or send you any information about products or services that ABPI has no direct connection with.

The Association of the British Pharmaceutical Industry

is a company limited by guarantee registered in England and Wales
(registered number 09826787) and its registered office is at
7th Floor Southside,105 Victoria Street, London, SW1E 6QT.
Telephone +44 (0) 207 9303477

The Prescription Medicines Code of Practice Authority (PMCPA) was established by The Association of the British Pharmaceutical Industry to operate the ABPI Code of Practice for the Pharmaceutical Industry independently of the ABPI. The PMCPA is a division of ABPI which is a company registered in England and Wales (registered number 09826787) with its registered office at 7th Floor, Southside, 105 Victoria Street, London SW1E 6QT.

The Office of Health Economics (OHE) is a company limited by guarantee registered in England and Wales (registered number 09848965) and its registered office is at 7th Floor Southside, 105 Victoria Street, London, SW1E 6QT. OHE provides independent research, advisory and consultancy services on policy implications and economic issues within the pharmaceutical, health care and biotechnology sectors.